Sri Lankan seeks US$300m for rare blue star sapphire
January 9, 2016 10:41 am
A Sri Lankan gem trader who owns the world’s largest blue star sapphire has decided to sell the dazzling stone, with a dizzying asking price of US$300 million, the Rakyat Post news agency reported.
The rare, egg-shaped stone weighs 1,404.49 carats and has been authenticated as the biggest of its kind at the Gemological Institute of Colombo (GIC), a private laboratory in the Sri Lankan capital.
“Looking at the reserve price of other very famous gems, I have now valued this at over US$300 million,” the owner, who wants to remain anonymous for fear the stone might be stolen, told AFP.
Unlike blue sapphires which have complete clarity of colour, blue star sapphires, a form of corundum, are opaque — but when placed under light reveal a six-line star.
Industry experts said the stone was so rare it was impossible to give a valuation.
-Agencies
